Chapter 17 Seventeen
Izzy followed the resort staff down the long, bright hallway, dragging her small suitcase behind her. The carpet was soft, and her heels made almost no sound as she walked. She finally stopped in front of a door that read:
Room 214 – Izzy Hart, Lily Chen, Grace Moore, and Tessa Boyd.
She sighed.
Roommates.
Pushing the door open, she found a large, cozy room with four beds, cream-colored curtains, and a small balcony that overlooked the calm blue lake. The air smelled faintly of pine and new linen.
Her three colleagues were already there... laughing, unpacking, and chatting about the weekend.
“Hey, Izzy!” Lily said cheerfully. “We saved the bed by the window for you!”
“Thanks,” Izzy replied, smiling politely. She set her bag down beside the bed and joined in their conversation for a few minutes. They talked about the trip, the schedule, and who might be giving speeches that night.
But after a while, Izzy excused herself and went into the bathroom to freshen up.
The bright lights reflected off the mirror as she stared at her own face... her heart still a little unsettled after seeing Dominic earlier that morning.
It had been weeks since she’d last spoken to him outside work, and yet, just one look from him at the resort had managed to shake her completely. He was still the same... tall, confident, and unreadable.
She leaned closer to the mirror and whispered, “You can’t keep letting him control your emotions, Izzy.”
Then, she remembered the list.
Three days ago, she’d been sitting on Maya’s couch, frustrated and venting about Dominic.
She had told her everything... how he ignored her in the office, how cold he was, and yet somehow wanted to keep having sex with her whenever he liked. Yes she did enjoy being is little slut.. But she never bargained to be used as a sex toy. And she had no idea she had wild sex fantasy before Dominic. The way he treated her was like she was another pick-up from the street.
It made her angry. Hurt. Confused.
And Maya, being Maya, had decided to take action.
“You know what honey, how to get a man's attention is to make his ass get jealous. Here… Operation Make Dominic Jealous,” Maya had said proudly, grabbing her pink notebook. “You need a plan. Something to remind him what he’s missing. That you're not his officially… let him come crawling. Except his cock being big would let your guards down… Don't you dare.”
At first, Izzy thought it was silly. But Maya was serious.
By the end of the night, they’d filled a whole page.
Operation Make Dominic Jealous – The List
Ignore him completely — like he does to you.
Don’t answer his messages right away. Make him wait.
Smile more around other people, especially men.
Dress like you’re glowing — confident and effortless.
Find a distraction. Someone charming.
Laugh often, especially when he’s nearby.
Look calm and untouchable — never upset.
Compliment another man in front of him.
Act like his presence means nothing.
Always be the one to walk away first.
Post a subtle picture that makes him curious.
Keep your hair down — he loved it. Now he doesn’t get to enjoy it.
Get a man use him as a distraction
Laugh naturally. Don’t let him see your nerves.
Never text him first — unless it’s about work.
Let him see you happy without him.
Flirt a little, harmlessly.
Hold his gaze — don’t be the one to look away.
Keep your cool.
If he gets jealous — perfect. That’s the goal.
Always look your best, even when you don’t feel it.
Stay polite, but out of reach.
No emotional talks.
No weakness.
Remember: He’s the one who should chase you.
Izzy smiled faintly at the memory, shaking her head.
“Trust Maya to turn heartbreak into homework,” she murmured.
She fixed a loose strand of hair, straightened her blouse, and whispered to herself, “Alright. Time to give Dominic Steele a taste of his own medicine.”
After a quick shower, she slipped into a simple but elegant black dress. It hugged her figure lightly and stopped just above her knees. She applied soft makeup, added a light perfume, and tied a delicate bracelet around her wrist.
When she looked in the mirror one last time, she didn’t look nervous anymore... she looked composed. Calm. Ready.
By the time she left her room, the sun was setting over the lake. The sky was painted in warm shades of pink and gold, and the sound of people laughing and talking floated down the hallway as guests made their way to the welcome dinner.
Izzy followed the crowd, her heels clicking softly on the floor. She held her clutch tightly, her heart steady.
But when she reached the large dining hall, she froze for a moment.
Across the room, she saw him.
Dominic.
He stood near the front table, talking to a few company executives. His dark suit fit him perfectly, and his usual cold expression looked softer under the warm lights. He seemed in control, as always... confident, composed, and a little too handsome for her peace of mind.
Her eyes trailed slightly... and stopped.
Standing beside him was a woman. Sienna
Beautiful, sleek, and dressed in a dark emerald dress that screamed sophistication.
Her again.
Before Izzy could even react, she spotted another familiar face... Adrian Cross. The charming man with the easy smile who had danced with her at the dinner weeks ago.
Of course.
His company, Cross & Co. Consulting, was one of Steele Enterprises’ biggest compettitors.
And that meant Adrian... and Sienna would both be here.
Izzy took a slow breath, straightened her shoulders, and whispered under her breath, “Remember the list. Cold shoulder. Calm smile. No feelings.”
She walked into the room gracefully, her chin high, her every movement smooth. She found her assigned table, surrounded by other staff members from Steele Enterprises, and took her seat as if she didn’t feel his gaze burning into her from across the hall.
Dominic barely looked her way. But she felt it.
Every second, every pause in his laughter, every faint flick of his eyes toward her... she felt it.
And that was enough.
Because tonight, she wasn’t going to chase his attention.
She wasn’t going to wonder what he thought.
No.
Tonight, Izzy Hart was going to enjoy herself smile, laugh, and show him exactly what it looked like when she stopped waiting.
If Dominic Steele wanted to play cold, then she would be ice itself.